In the ear auxiliary microphone for behind the ear hearing prosthetic

Abstract

An In The Ear (ITE) microphone which converts audio sounds into electrical signals which are then processed by a speech processor to generate electrical pulses to stimulate nerves in the cochlea, improves the acoustic response of a Behind The Ear (BTE) Implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system during telephone use. An acoustic seal provided by holding a telephone earpiece against the ear provides improved coupling of low frequency (up to about 1 KHz) sound waves, sufficient to overcome losses due to the near field acoustic characteristics common to telephones. In an exemplary embodiment, the ITE microphone is connected to a removable ear hook of the BTE ICS system by a short bendable stalk.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for use with a Behind The Ear (BTE) Implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system, the BTE including a removable earhook and the ICS system including a speech processor, the apparatus comprising:
 a microphone assembly, wherein the microphone assembly includes a microphone which converts audio sounds into electrical signals which are processed by the speech processor to generate signals provided to an implantable circuit adapted to generate electrical pulses to stimulate nerves in the cochlea; 
 means for positioning the microphone assembly to receive sound waves through a port, wherein the sound waves are directed from a volume between a user's ear and the earpiece of a communications handset held to the ear; and 
 means for electrically connecting the microphone to the speech processor, 
 wherein the positioning means includes a first end attached to the earhook and a second end directed towards the inside of a user's ear, 
 wherein the microphone assembly is attached to the second end of the positioning means. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the communications handset is a telephone handset. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the positioning means comprises a stalk adapted to connect the microphone assembly to the earhook. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the stalk is adapted to be bendable and to retain the bend once bent, thereby adjusting the position of the microphone assembly. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the stalk is formed of shrink tubing. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the earhook is removably attachable to a coaxial connector, wherein the coaxial connector is attached to a case of the speech processor. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a filter at a distal end of the microphone assembly, wherein the filter seals the microphone from the environment. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the microphone assembly further includes a sleeve and wherein the microphone resides in the sleeve. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the microphone, the sleeve, and the electrical connecting means are covered by a boot, wherein the boot includes an access hole for the port. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the boot is molded from an elastomer. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus for use with a Behind The Ear Implantable Cochlear Stimulation system, comprising:
 an earhook configured to be removably attachable to a Behind The Ear (BTE) unit of an Implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system; 
 a microphone assembly, wherein the microphone assembly includes a microphone which converts audio sounds into electrical signals which are processed by the speech processor to generate signals provided to an implantable circuit adapted to generate electrical pulses to stimulate nerves in the cochlea; 
 means for positioning the microphone assembly to receive sound waves through a soundport, wherein the sound waves are directed from a volume between a user's ear and the earpiece of a communications handset held to the ear; and 
 means for electrically connecting the microphone to the speech processor, 
 wherein the means for positioning includes a first end attached to the earhook and a second end attached to the microphone, and wherein the microphone is adjusted to reside within the space defined by a concha of a user's ear with the soundport directed downward when the BTE unit is worn on the user's ear. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the microphone assembly is adjusted so that when an earpiece of a communications handset is held to the ear, the soundport is open to the volume between the earpiece and the user's ear. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the communications handset is a telephone handset. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the means for positioning comprises a stalk adapted to connect the microphone assembly to the earhook. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the stalk is adapted to be bendable and to retain the bend once bent, thereby adjusting the position of the microphone assembly. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the stalk is formed of shrink tubing. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the earhook is removably attachable to a coaxial connector, wherein the coaxial connector is attached to a case of the speech processor. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 11  further including a filter at a distal end of the microphone assembly, wherein the filter seals the microphone from the environment. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the microphone assembly further includes a sleeve and wherein the microphone resides in the sleeve. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the microphone, the sleeve, and the electrical connecting means are covered by a boot, wherein the boot includes an access hole for the soundport.